Mumbai: Bollywood director Subhash Kapoor has been acquitted in a molestation case by a magistrate court here.
Best known for helming ‘Jolly LLB’ and its sequel, Subhash was accused of molesting an actress at her flat in 2012.
The judge said it was difficult to believe why the woman retaliated in the form of a “no” only and that her conduct was not consistent with ordinary course of human behaviour.
The court pointed out that the woman had not raised an alarm after the alleged incident took place.
The court concluded that the complaint was a result of professional jealousy as Kapoor had won a national award for ‘Jolly LLB’ just before that.
The actress had told police she got acquainted with Subhash through a common friend in 2006 and became friends with the director’s wife too. She claimed that she met the director at a restaurant on May 27, 2012, with some friends. Post-midnight, Subhash insisted they continue conversations and went to the woman’s flat.
Subhash allegedly went off to sleep and got up around 6 am, kissed the actress and tried to put his hand inside her clothes. However, the woman managed to escape.
Subhash allegedly apologised and wanted the issue be closed. However, in 2013, one of her friends posted about it on social media. A case was registered against Subhash in 2014.
During her cross examination, the actress told the court that she had not informed anyone about the incident until 2013, while some witnesses said that they were told in 2012.
Questioning the two-year delay in complaining to police, metropolitan magistrate AI Shaikh said: “It appears from cross-examination that the woman did not scream when the accused pulled her towards the bedroom and she did not sustain any injury. Her dress was not damaged when the accused forcefully put his hand in her dress. It is important to note that the conduct of the woman is inconsistent with the ordinary course of human nature.”
The court said that there were lacunas in the investigation which had not been carried out properly.
